By Victoria Cruz
News Writer
On March 9, Hello Connecticut Host Renée DiNino discussed media, advocacy and leadership with students during her PEP Talk.
Hosted by the School of Business, DiNino led her discussion by sharing insights from her decades-long career in broadcasting and community advocacy.
“When I started, it was male-dominated. It was a different time. And I always knew what I wanted to do with my voice, but I did not know how to get there,” DiNino said.
She spoke candidly about entering an industry where there were no blueprints for women like her.
Early in her career, DiNino said she often experienced objectification and struggled to be taken seriously in a visual media industry that placed a heavy emphasis on appearance.
Despite those challenges, she remained committed to finding and developing her voice.
“I will never belittle myself or my dreams or my goals again,” DiNino said.
DiNino emphasized the importance of carefully managing one’s professional image, especially in modern day media, when personal and professional lives can easily intersect.
“Everything I put out, I monitor. I never put anything out that I wouldn’t show or say publicly. Decide early on what you want to put out in public, and then behave accordingly,” DiNino said.
For students hoping to become authentic leaders, DiNino encouraged them to first understand their own values and voice.
“The only way you can be authentic is to figure out what your voice is and what you will allow into your life. You have to control the narrative. Remember how you got there, and be open, honest and kind,” DiNino said.
Throughout the talk, DiNino described the media industry as increasingly structured and corporate compared to when she first entered the field. Having studied business law, she explained that understanding the business side of media is essential to navigating the profession today.
“The industry is very corporate now. Business people are essential to making sure there is a structure and protection within the industry,” DiNino said.
In addition to her work in broadcasting, DiNino has devoted much of her career to community advocacy.
DiNino said that one of her proudest accomplishments was helping pass the animal protection legislation in Connecticut.
In connection to Desmond’s Law, which is the law that allows courts to appoint advocates to prosecuting attorneys in cases involving animal cruelty, DiNino expanded on this foundation.
She also spoke about the difficulty of balancing advocacy work with personal and professional responsibilities.
“Sometimes, people feel like you have to save the world. I have to help the world; I don’t have to save it. I would like to, but I have to remember, I have people who depend on me too,” DiNino said.
Despite those challenges, DiNino said she remains optimistic about the future, particularly when speaking to students and young professionals.
Students who attended the event said that they found DiNino’s honesty about her journey to be inspiring. Business major Doriska Bosquet, a senior, said that as a student who currently works many jobs, she viewed DiNino’s words as motivation.
“It was very informative and inspiring. Seeing someone who doesn’t have a degree who was able to make a career for herself is inspiring,” Bosquet said.
Business administration major Joel Brown, a junior, also appreciated DiNino’s transparency.
“I like that she is very transparent and open to talking about her past experiences,” Brown said. “I took away that you should never sell yourself short because you are more than that.”
